Obesity is a serious, chronic, and progressive disease and is associated with a significant increase in mortality and many health risks including Type II Diabetes, hypertension, increased cholesterol level and coronary heart disease. The benefits of weight loss include reduction in the rate of progression from impaired glucose intolerance to diabetes, decreased in blood pressure levels, preventing hypertension and a reduced cholesterol level. Other noncardiac benefits of weight loss include reductions in urinary incontinence, sleep apnea and depression as well as improvements in quality of life, physical functioning and mobility.